Possible inflammatory breast cancer - clinic app not for over two weeks

[Rockschooldropout]

I posted on Monday about this in another section but now I’m really stressing .
I went to the gp on Monday as my left breast swelled up almost overnight and became very tender to the touch , especially around the nipple area . The areola looks bigger and a little red . She said she thought she could feel a lump in the areola too and immediately referred me to the breast clinic. I called today but with my hospital the clinic don’t deal with appointments and you have to ring a central booking line .
The booking line gave me an appointment which isn’t until 23rd July . I asked about cancellations and they said they don’t have a cancel list as they are just the booking line
Rang clinic again who said nothing they can do as they don’t deal with that side of things .
I went back to my gp today to ask if maybe anti biotics in the meantime would help and she said it was unlikely as she believes I have inflammatory Breast cancer - I’m now beside myself with worry as I believe it’s very aggressive and can spread quickly .. and I don’t know what to do .
I could go private but so can’t afford the biopsy which she said I’ll likely need .
it will be 16 days from referal by the time I’m seen and I’m worried it’s too long 😩

It is such a shock as you never think it will happen to you. Took ages to sink in with me and I kept thinking "this isn't the story of my life "!

Try not to dwell on the year of treatment and break it down into small steps.

I was triple neg and it was six years ago I got the diagnosis. It is a slog but doable.

Hi op that just shows gps diagnosis of inflammatory breast cancer wasn’t correct!

I’ve just had a masectomy, so if you’ve got any questions there I can help.

weve both got long roads ahead but you just have to take it one result /treatment at a time.

I thought invasive ductal carcinoma was an inflammatory breast cancer?

Thinking of you OP.

I don’t think so. If you google Inflammatory breast cancer it comes up as very rare with only 3-5% of breast cancers being that type. I’ve just googled “invasive ductal carcinoma” and it’s apparently 75% of all breast cancers. In fact I’m pretty sure it’s what I’ve also got and no one has called it inflammatory bc.

https://www.breastcancer.org/types/invasive-ductal-carcinoma

www.cancerresearchuk.org/about-cancer/breast-cancer/types/inflammatory-breast-cancer

Thanks, useful to know. Maybe a US/UK difference in terminology? https://www.cancer.org/cancer/types/breast-cancer/about/types-of-breast-cancer/inflammatory-breast-cancer.html

Anyway don’t want to derail or detract from OP. Edited to add am following as a friend had an inflammatory IDC.

Thank you x we’d better buckle up for this rollercoaster !

Just read the consultants letter from today , it says 1.1 mm of IDC along with DCIS but she wants the other biopsy to rule out multi focal disease

No IBC is a different type of BC x

Snap! I feel outraged that cancer has sneaked in to mess up my plans !
I just need to get the next biopsy done and results then treatment will start hopefully

Rockschooldropout how are you adjusting to your 'new norm?'

I had my first appointment with scans and biopsies on Friday and was told I'm probably looking at cancer.

I've got an appointment for the 20th for final results so should know more

For me it is confirmation of what I kind of knew anyway.

Finding it exceedingly difficult to keep up with the positivity of every one around me. But I guess that is better than the alternative.

Scared witless about what's to come and wondering if I'm up to the road ahead, despite having no choice in the matter!

Anyway, hope you're enjoying this beautiful sunshine. I'm going to try

I’m sorry it wasn’t a positive appointment 😩
It’s a horrible time waiting for the results - you hope against hope that they might be wrong . At least you’ll soon know what you are dealing with .
Try and keep busy while you wait . Don’t Google … plan some nice things to do x

While I was waiting I got fed up of the positivity.. I know it sounds daft but I just wanted to be scared and frightened . And allowed to do so . Since I got the formal diagnosis .. I’ve actually felt a bit calmer but am now frustrated that I need more tests , worried it will hold up treatment and panicking that it’s spreading , but I think this is a normal reaction .
I’ve just got back from visiting all my family inc children and grandson and am planning lots of fun things to keep me busy while I wait for the next results .

Im trying to make sure dd has everything ready for school in September and getting everything in order for when I start treatment and DH takes over . I feel sorry for him tbh as he’s going to have to run the business and everything else .
I feel like I’m in some strange parallel universe , considering turning my birthday weekend away into a “farewell to my left tit party “ as well !
it’s a shitty time and the road ahead does look rocky but we have no choice but to face it .. the alternative is worse .. I’m not putting a brave face on .. I’m shit scared and I’m not afraid to say it x

I hope I can just put one foot in front of the other at the moment without upsetting the sensitivities of other.

I selfishly feel that this should all be about me, but that's so simplistic

It's really about making sure everyone else is going to be ok and able to function.

But I'm realising that might well need to change.

It feels somewhat strange to put myself first but I've got to learn how.

Sometimes my mind can wander and before I know it, the train has left the station and derailed.

I've realised I've got to teach my brain that one day at a time is enough. Any more is a bonus